Four years ago, immediately after the election, I sent out an extremely important email.
Prior to the 2008 election and in this 2012 election, I offered no political opinions. I did not seek to sway anyone in the election. I simply presented the spiritual and moral issues that are identified in the Bible. Unfortunately, the issues and interpretations of morality, justice and equality have fallen on two different sides of the dominant political parties in America.
This dilemma causes many people to vote for a president who is a Democrat and then vote for Senators and Congressmen who are Republicans in order to balance the scales. Or they vote for a Republican president and then vote for Senators and Congressmen who are Democrats. This is why it’s so difficult to navigate through the political process in our country. It’s also the reason it’s so difficult to explain one’s choices to family, friends and colleagues.
Here is what I wrote four years ago and it is incredibly amazing how it still applies to us today:
Last night our nation elected another president and no matter if whether your candidate was chosen or not, we are facing many storms in our future. I personally believe the first one will be a storm of division which always strikes after an election. This year it will have a significant effect on the church in America because the polls within the church show the Body of Christ was divided along racial, political and social lines during this election.
Sometimes we were asked who we believed would win. As pastors and ministers, we’re not supposed to publically endorse a political candidate, so we will continue to withhold our personal views on that subject. Also, since the church in America is so divided over the candidate choices, we have found it necessary to minister on a higher and more meaningful level than politics and race.
So you ask, what could possibly be more important than politics and race, especially since the issues that were raised were deeply spiritual and moral?
We choose to focus on the hearts of men, women, boys and girls, because the Bible declares that from the heart, spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23 reads:
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
So, before we start discussing the issues of life, we have to deal with the HEART. Many hearts have not been kept (guarded and protected). They have been broken, wounded, damaged, crushed, twisted, perverted, distorted, etc. Therefore, people assume their personal and political positions, regarding the issues of life, based upon what has happened in and to their hearts.
The Lord gave us a particular way to address the issues of today. The main objectives of Chris and Carol Green include being spiritual parents in this era. We believe God gave us this approach to ministry because HE knew the kind of hearts this generation would have. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, was giving a warning regarding some matters, but in the midst of his warning he makes a profound statement to explain his position. He tells them,
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. - 1 Corinthians 4:15-16
So, like Paul, we’re not making these statements just as instructors, teachers, pastors, or clergy. We write these weekly emails to you as spiritual parents because there really aren’t many fathers (and mothers) in Christ. Before we were sent out in ministry, we were called primarily to be a father and mother to this generation.
Paul established solid relationships with the people reading his letters. He was basically telling them this: I've been more than a religious instructor. So don't just do what I'm telling you because I said so. Imitate me based upon what you've seen in me and what we have shared together.
So in your mental picture of Chris and Carol, please take away the podium, the clergy collar, the robes and sacred garments. We’re just a father and mother, a dad and a mom, that God has touched with His love and compassion. HE told us to go and reach this generation with that kind of love and ministry.
Like parents talking to their children, we're saying: While you are following the peace of God, let's stick together. There will always be a lot to complain about (politically, socially, economically), but don’t give in to it. That's why Paul told everyone to be thankful. - written November 5, 2008
I'll close this week's blog with the lyrics of a song written by a dear friend more than 30 years ago.
If you want a brand new world, you gotta have brand new people
If you want brand new people, we've gotta have a brand new life
If you want a brand new life, you gotta have a brand new spirit
If you want a brand new spirit, we've gotta come to Jesus Christ!
- Dr. Myles Munroe
